Zscaler > Case Studies > Agility in Motion: DB Schenker's Cloud Commitment Facilitates Remote Access for Global Workforce

Agility in Motion: DB Schenker's Cloud Commitment Facilitates Remote Access for Global Workforce

Technology Category

Networks & Connectivity - 5G
Sensors - Environmental Sensors

Applicable Industries

Cement
Transportation

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Use Cases

Personnel Tracking & Monitoring
Vehicle-to-Infrastructure

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
Hardware Design & Engineering Services

About The Customer

DB Schenker is a multinational logistics company based in Essen, Germany. It is one of the world's leading logistics and freight-forwarding companies, providing contracted transport services over land, sea, and air. The company operates in more than 80 countries and employs over 76,000 workers in 1400+ locations. DB Schenker's business operations are truly global, requiring the company to cross borders and ship goods from one location to another, regardless of the country or cost. The company's IT infrastructure team manages systems and solutions for its vast global workforce.

The Challenge

DB Schenker, a global logistics and freight-forwarding company, faced a significant challenge when the coronavirus outbreak began. The company had to quickly enable the majority of its 76,000+ workforce to work remotely, ensuring their safety while maintaining business continuity. The company's operations span over 80 countries and 1400+ locations, making the task even more complex. The immediate concern was how to facilitate remote access for its employees, particularly those affected by the outbreak in China. The company's existing IT infrastructure and legacy network architecture were not equipped to handle such a massive shift to remote work.

The Solution

DB Schenker had already begun initiatives to migrate workflows, resources, and applications to the cloud, which proved to be a significant advantage in addressing this challenge. The company's secure cloud transformation began in 2017 with the investment in Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) to secure local internet breakouts for its employees' internet egress. This was part of a larger program called 'Global Workplace Management,' which prioritized cloud-based solutions and SaaS use. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, DB Schenker quickly deployed Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) for its employees, starting with those in China. Over two-and-a-half weeks, DB Schenker rolled out ZPA to its broader workforce, ensuring business continuity.

Operational Impact

The rapid deployment of ZPA and the shift to remote work went smoothly, with minimal impact on business continuity. The company's prior commitment to cloud-based solutions and the 'Global Workplace Management' program laid the groundwork for this successful transition. The feedback from employees has been overwhelmingly positive, with many stating they do not want to return to a traditional VPN connection. The company's new operational agility, facilitated by ZPA, is seen as a potential competitive advantage in the future. The crisis communication plan, which included establishing a task force, leveraging collaboration tools, performing daily status checks, ensuring accountability, building communication channels, and continuous improvement, was also instrumental in guiding DB Schenker through the crisis.

Quantitative Benefit

DB Schenker was able to quickly deploy ZPA to its 76,000+ employees in over 1400 locations.
The company successfully completed a four-day ZPA pilot test phase in early February 2020.
Over two-and-a-half weeks, DB Schenker rolled out ZPA to its broader workforce.